Fredericksburg Virginia
Dark Star Saloon
A Civil War family of spirits are stuck here; still suffering from unkind times.
A 20th century tenant who suffered a fatal disease is the spectral family’s roommate.
DESCRIPTION
The Dark Star Saloon and Cafe is located in a two story 1839 structure that was built in a very solid manner. It has been in continuous use since it was opened as a business and private quarters on the second floor.
One reason why it has been so useful, beside being in a fantastic location, is that it has been renovated and modified to fit the business/personal needs of whomever owned it. Needless to say, it wasn”t eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places or Virginia’s Landmark Register, but it is part of the Fredericksburg Historic District.
Looking at it from the outside, the wooden structural shape is intact; its style suggesting its origins being in the 1800s. The outside wood has probably been replaced many times over its 191 years of existence.
The first floor is a rectangular structure that is home to the business: currently a cafe, a saloon and a stage. The upstairs is much smaller; with three rooms and probably a bathroom. I don’t know why the current owner and Chef, Christopher Scott, uses the upstairs area for possibly an office, and perhaps an emergency bedroom or two.
Many restaurants and Taverns in Fredericksburg, such as Sonora at The David Finney Inn, offer upscale, interesting fare to draw in folks looking for upscale menu choices in interesting places.
Formerly known as SMYTHE’S Cottage and Tavern, The Dark Star Saloon owner, Christopher Scott, bought this property and renovated it to be a funky rock and roll cafe and saloon, pleasing to the senses. It features upscale New American Cuisine food on the menu offerings. The owner, Christopher Scott is the magnificent chef behind the food.
The Dark Star Saloon and Cafe had its grand opening in August of 2019.
The walls have some items from Christopher’s personal rock and roll collection. There are red upholstered mid-century booths near the big window in the front seating area, along with wooden tables and chairs.
While the inside’s new additions of rock and roll artifacts surely brightens up this place, it still has some gleamings of the original 1839 structure. The floor boards that were not decorated with growing rose vines are the same solid original oak. The ceiling still has the ceiling boards across the width of the structure that were popular in 1839; some of which have silver metal covering it, giving the ceiling a positive shine.
There is a small stage with a variety of bands playing live music performing rock, bluegrass and folk music. Live music is encouraged and promoted; giving patrons great sounds while dining.
There is a small but colorful bar as well, that seats 6 people. The kitchen is behind the bar area.
Looking at the reviews, people really enjoy steaks, and other interesting entrees and desserts on the menu. The owners are going for quality, not cheap bar food.
Just a few reviewers were disappointed about the speed of the service, which indicates a combination of newfound popularity and a lack of experience in organizing a restaurant. But, I bet experience has been a great teacher, and Chris has figured out how to provide great service to go along with his wonderful menu.
HISTORY
This Colonial style structure was built in 1839 and has been in continuous use since then, providing a public business on the first floor with living quarters on the second floor. It may have been a rental or private home as well.
In 1850, the first floor became a blacksmith shop, which may have meant that the front of this building may have had a different front with a swing door that would allow horses to be brought in to be shod? The floor was probably dirt.
Sometime in the 1850s, the wood floor was put back in, and the front was possibly changed to make the structure suitable for a home or business, adding the same type of wood to the covered, closed-in front.
A married couple with perhaps an extended family member or two lived here. Their living room was on the first floor. It was thought to be a brothel used by Union troops; but no one knows for sure.
One story has the wife, being a Union sympathizer, passing on information about Confederate Strategies with a Union officer. We don’t know if she actually was one of the working girls, but used the brothel as a place to disclose her information.
When her husband found out, he accused her of being a traitor to the Confederate cause, and being unfaithful to him. This caused unhappiness, tragedy and unfortunate consequences for her surviving family. Their family suffered greatly during the Union occupation of Fredericksburg.
Sometime during this structure’s long history, probably after the Civil War and Reconstruction, someone renovated the first floor to be a tavern with food, and either lived upstairs or rented those rooms as well. Its location was in the heart of the business district.
When indoor bathrooms became a necessity, bathrooms were added on both the first and second floor rooms. Other modern conveniences like electrical power came as well.
Quite a few restaurants moved in during the next 100 + years.
1980-1992. An Irish Tavern called the Irish Brigade provided unique beer and rock music. During this time, the second floor was rented to a Tootie Ninde.
Smythe Cottage and Tavern opened its doors as a restaurant and tavern.The upstairs rooms were at first the family residence, and then later were rented out.
HISTORY OF MANIFESTATIONS
While four spirits have been seen here, only two of them have been recognized, Elizabeth and Tootie. The male spirit is probably the husband of the spirit of Elizabeth. The other female spirit is unknown, but some guesses can be made.
Spirits who in life were treated badly by an enemy, may hold grudges against present day folks who they think are from the same group of people who hurt them. The living can also resemble their enemy as well. An item that reminds them of their enemies may also be the object of their upset.
Harpers Ferry Ranger’s Guest House, WV (An unfriendly and resentful male spirit who was traumatized from attacks by Union troops that destroyed his life, is triggered by uniforms and anyone breathing).
Col. Michael Swope Townhouse, VA (The grumpy spirit of Col Swope still holds a grudge against the British because of the poor treatment he experienced in their captivity. When a British medium came to look at the house to buy, he appeared to her and stated his dislike of anyone British. She didn’t buy the townhouse).
Fort McHenry, NY (An angry spirit of a French soldier who lost his life defending the enemy, British soldiers, still resents it. He takes it out on the docents who wear the British uniform. This spirit has been known to trip them and shove them all the way across the lobby to the other side of the room).
Dark Star Saloon and Cafe, VA (A picture of Grant had upset spirits attached to this structure, because of the hardships suffered by Union occupation of Fredericksburg. Activity in the house jumped up a notch).
People who kill themselves from emotional upset are still restless and don’t feel any better. Some go through the pain they had and reenact their death.
Westover Plantation, VA (No matter how she tried, Evelyn Byrd couldn’t get over the loss of her beloved, whom her father didn’t allow her to marry because he was a Catholic. Through the years she worked hard at being the mistress of the plantation, until her brother lost the property in a gambling event. Some say she died of a broken heart when she learned they all had to move out, or some think she hanged herself as this was a loss that she couldn’t handle).
Hassayampa Inn, AZ (A bride and groom checked in to begin their honeymoon. The husband left to buy some cigarettes but didn’t come back, leaving his bride alone for three days. He either was a victim of foul play, or got cold feet. She hanged herself. Her spirit regrets what she did, and has decided to reside here).
Adolphus Hotel, TX (When a young bride was stood up at the altar, she hanged herself on the bannister. Her spirit is still not happy).
Dark Star Saloon and Cafe, VA (Elizabeth was a Union spy who was caught by her husband, who accused her of being a traitor and being unfaithful to him. She was so upset that she hung herself from the staircase landing).
People who love their business or home, or favorite spot, sometimes like to visit or reside in this structure as spirits, going about their daily life; especially if they eventually suffered death from illness, murder, or severe hardship that caused death at the hands of another.
Glebe House, CT (Unlike other English Episcopal ministers who fled to safer grounds in Canada, Reverend Marshall chose to stay in his community, out of duty to the Lord and the people in his congregation, despite being staunchly in support of the King and England. He paid dearly for his courage and beliefs. During the week, “inspectors” would drag him out of his home, beat him up, and trash his house, subjecting the Marshall family to terror and torment. Unfortunately, Rev. John Marshall eventually died of his injuries suffered in these beatings, passing in his mid 40s. His spirit and the spirits of his family stay with him there).
Waverley Plantation House, MS (Two little girl spirits reside here; one died from disease, and one died from a fall down a steep flight of stairs. One sought her mother).
Glensheen Mansion and the Congdon Estate, MN (Poor health, narcissism, betrayal, and murders resulted in an ugly end but a pleasant afterlife for these spirits).
Dark Star Saloon and Cafe, VA (Tootie Ninde lived in a room on the second floor. After suffering from cancer, she died in 1982, but her spirit never left. The spirit of Elizabeth and the spirit of her husband reside here where they were happy before the Civil War. She killed herself out of distress, and he was probably shot by Union soldiers after they found out that Elizabeth had killed herself).
Sometimes spirits out of guilt or out of love, stay with their spectral loved ones who remain in the family home.
Old Allen House, AR (The spirit of LaDell Allen resides here, and has the company of the spirit of her son, and her parents).
Shanley Hotel, NY (The father of Rosie, Peter Grager, who worked as a barber at The Shanley was devastated at the accidental death of his daughter, Rosie. As Rosie has chosen to stay at the hotel, her dad stays as well to look after her).
The Whaley House, CA (The spirit of the daughter of the Whaleys, Violet, is still very upset about her failed marriage and her suicide).
Dark Star Saloon and Cafe, VA (The spirit of Elizabeth’s husband had verbally caused the overwhelming grief that pushed Elizabeth over the waterfall into suicide. The unknown female spirit could be a family member of Elizabeth, who stays to comfort her).
MANIFESTATIONS
Most of the hauntings listed below were reported by the owners of Smythe’s Cottage, and their family, patrons and employees, and paranormal investigators.
Residual Energy
From the blacksmith shop years, people hear the sound of faint ringing, like an iron being formed on an anvil coming from the front part of the first floor.
Messing with the Employees
One staff member would like the candles on the table, and leave the room for only a moment. When the staff member came back, some of the candles would be blown out, despite the fact that there was no source of wind or another living person.
Freshly set tables with silverware and napkins ready to go for patrons would be moved out of place in just a moment of looking away.
General Grant Not Welcome
During the years of Smythe’s Cottage Tavern and Cafe, a large picture of General Grant hung on the wall right at the bottom of the stairway.
When the owners came inside each morning, to prepare for a business day in their tavern, the large picture was angled. They would straighten it. This happened three times over a week.
Finally, the picture was turned around, facing the wall.
The Spirit of a Tall Man
He is probably Elizabeth’s husband.
He has long black hair, a full length black coat, and a loose western tie.
He likes to appear on the outside patio area, but probably comes inside as well as an unseen presence.
He keeps an eye on the folks running their business.
The Spirit of a Woman
She has been described as being a short, heavy person wearing a long, dark “old fashioned” skirt and white apron.
Several people saw her float swiftly past the tables in the back on a mission to gather vegetables in the back garden.
Elizabeth Revisits her Death
Patrons and staff alike when they pass the stairway, see out of the corner of their eyes a swinging motion, and when they look, they briefly see a female apparition floating there at the top of the stairs where she hung herself.
Doesn’t Like Noisy Investigators
Paranormal investigators apparently upset her, perhaps asking her rude personal questions.
She broke the dish in “her room” that had packets of sugar and artificial sweetener.
The Spirit of Tootie Ninde
Her see-through face and partial body has been seen looking out the front window on the first floor.
Her see-through body is seen crawling up the steps to her room. When she was still alive, she couldn’t walk up the stairs due to her cancer illness.
The light in her room has been turned on when no one living was there.
PARANORMAL FINDINGS
The owners of Smythe’s Cottage and Tavern, their children, the staff members and patrons alike have all had vivid personal experiences.
Because of all the disturbing activity, the owners of Smythe’s Cottage probably called in a paranormal group to tell them what was going on. They caught some hard evidence in Elizabeth’s Room. On their set-up camera, they saw the sugar dish thrown on the floor and the moving closet doors. They also caught moving lights that definitely were not car lights or bugs.
They also saw the “spirit of the woman” on a mission to get vegetables from the garden and ran after her but she had gone through the slats of the locked garden, and disappeared.
STILL HAUNTED?
Probably so! Suicide can be a real stumbling stone and cause spirits to be stuck.
Though, all this in-your-face yet polite activity may have been caused by the hanging of the General Grant portrait by the stairway. All the spirits with the exception of Tootie had suffered greatly and died because of the Union occupation of Fredericksburg.
The current Dark Star Saloon doesn’t have the General Grant picture hanging anymore to aggravate the spirits, but Elizabeth may still be in emotional torment and her family members may still be there with her, unless a medium was able to help her pass over.
Tootie may also still be there, unless she was helped to the other side.
So far, new owner Christopher Scott hasn’t reported any activity, but time will tell. They may decide to pitch in and help this living owner succeed.
LOCATION
303 Fauquier Street
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
https://www.facebook.com/DarkStarFXBG/videos/421050758834600/
The Dark Star Saloon and Cafe is located near the corner of Fauquier St. and Princess Anne St.
SOURCES INCLUDE
- Civil War Ghosts of Virginia, by L.B. Taylor, Jr
- Civil War Ghost Trails, By Mark Nesbitt,Stackpole Books, 2012
- The Dark Star Saloon and Cafe
- https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&ved=2ahUKEwj77bnVv6TnAhXPvZ4KHWuQCdEQtwIwBXoECCAQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DARZsY9j2OiA&usg=AOvVaw2t3os-uzvPDJNqlDH7EFSL
Our Haunted Paranormal Stories are Written by Julie Carr
Our Photos are copyrighted by Tom Carr
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